Volunteer Guidelines

Everyone has talents and skills, which means anyone can offer their talents and skills to help towards a greater cause by volunteering. Being a volunteer is a great way to: 

• Meet new friends.
• Network.
• Build marketable skills.
  

Age

There are opportunities for every age, but most volunteer programs are for people aged 16 and older. However, many groups do include children and younger teenagers.

These opportunities are often organized by various groups such as school clubs or church youth groups, but you can seek volunteer opportunities on your own as well. There are plenty of organizations that support volunteering all around the state. If you're interested in volunteering, check out Serve Illinois. Ways you can help often include:

• Doing yard work or cleaning.
• Cooking or serving food.
• Playing games with kids at a neighborhood center.
• Tutoring.
• Fundraising.
• Babysitting.
• Gardening.
• Taking care of animals.

Skills

Volunteer work covers a wide range of skills. It gives people with those skills a chance to use them to help their communities and the world. To ensure that your work is the most effective, volunteer in activities that you are comfortable with. Sometimes volunteer efforts can do more harm than good when participants try to accomplish something outside of their skill sets. Also, volunteering is a great way to enhance a specific skill.

If you're deciding on a college major, it may be a good idea to see if you can take on volunteer work as part of your degree program. For example, some classes have volunteer work in the curriculum. Schools may also offer study or volunteer abroad programs. This not only allows for real-world experience in your field, but you are also contributing in a positive manner. If you are interested in getting a head start, you may even be able to find volunteer programs at a high school level. You don't have to wait!

People with Disabilities

People with disabilities actively volunteer for the same reasons that others do, to give back to the community, develop new relationships and to gain networking opportunities. In Illinois, Serve Illinois is working towards creating more inclusive volunteer programs for all. You can view their guide to creating more inclusive programs that will provide you with knowledge of searching for, interviewing, and working with volunteers with disabilities.

People with disabilities can be involved with many projects, such as: 

• Physical labor.
• Child care.
• Teaching.
• Advocacy and human rights.
• Fine Arts or music.
• Fundraising.
• Food preparation.